Matt Manuel

VP of Engineering @ Cognitive3D
5.0
(8 reviews)
VP of Engineering | 30 years at Microsoft, EA, LucasArts, Zynga | XR, gamedev, leadership & TPM coaching
Canada Active today Usually responds in a day or two

Services

$270 / month

Best suited for people making the next step in their careers, either promotions or job changes.

4 calls per month (30min/call)

Unlimited Q&A via chat

Expect responses in 2 days

Hands-on support

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About

I lead a multi-disciplinary engineering team at a B2B software company where we build the platform for spatial analytics in VR and AR — helping customers turn participant behaviour inside immersive experiences into insights that improve their products. Over 20+ years, my career has spanned gaming (web, mobile, console, PC), consumer software (Windows, Office), and enterprise cloud (Azure) — both as a software engineer and as a Technical Program Manager. Mentoring has been a formal part of my work for two decades, and as a hiring manager I've reviewed 10,000+ resumes and conducted 500+ interviews — so I have a clear, practical view of what actually moves the needle when you're applying, interviewing, or angling for a promotion. I'm also the author of a free e-book, *Book of TPM*, which has reached 9,300+ unique readers helping aspiring program managers become world-class at the craft.

Companies and products I've worked on include:

- Microsoft — Office, Windows, Azure (engineering and TPM)
- LucasArts — Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, Indiana Jones
- EA — FIFA, The Sims, World Cup, Champions League, Football Club
- Zynga — FarmVille
- Capcom — Dead Rising

I work best with university students, new grads, and early-to-mid-career software engineers — especially those preparing for a promotion, navigating a career or job change, breaking into the game industry, or stepping into engineering leadership or Technical Program Management. If you're curious about XR/VR engineering, weighing a move from IC to leader, or trying to figure out whether gamedev is right for you, those are my favourite conversations. My style is practical and collaborative: we'll work through the actual situations in front of you — resume reviews, interview prep, roadmap trade-offs, stakeholder dynamics, career decisions — not abstract theory. And honestly, I learn as much from my apprentices as they do from me.

Ready to start? Send me a message telling me where you are today and where you'd like to be in 6–12 months, and I'll reply with a suggested path forward so we can take the first step together.

What mentees say

5 out of 5 stars

Matt Manuel has been an exceptional mentor and coach, and I can’t recommend him highly enough. He has been instrumental in helping me navigate a challenging and often complex political climate within my current organization, offering clear, grounded guidance that is both practical and thoughtful. His advice consistently balances realism with integrity, which has been invaluable as I work through difficult situations and decisions. What truly sets Matt apart is his ability to help you reflect deeply on who you want to be in your professional life. He doesn’t just offer surface-level advice—he asks the right questions and creates space for meaningful self-reflection. Through our conversations, he’s helped me better understand my values, strengths, and long-term goals, and how to actively align those with the kind of professional environment I want to be part of. That alignment has been a game-changer for me. Matt brings a rare combination of interpersonal insight, technical understanding, and managerial perspective. Whether the topic is people dynamics, career strategy, leadership challenges, or technical decision-making, his guidance is consistently salient, nuanced, and actionable. He has a strong ability to zoom out to the big picture while still offering concrete next steps. On top of all that, Matt has a great sense of humor, which makes even difficult conversations feel approachable and energizing. Mentorship with him is both impactful and genuinely enjoyable. If you’re looking for a mentor who will challenge you thoughtfully, support your growth, and help you navigate complexity with clarity and confidence—don’t sleep on Matt.

Matthew

Matthew

Standard Plan • 6 months

5 out of 5 stars

Matt is a great mentor! The feedback he gives is precise and spot on! His unique insights helped understand the perspectives of a client, and set me on the right direction to continue iterating the product!

Leyuan

Leyuan

Standard Plan • 7 months

Leyuan wrote 1 more review for the same mentorship

5 out of 5 stars

Matt is a great mentor. I work with Matt on weekly basis and every week I left the meeting with takeaways and new inspiration. I initially came to Matt to consult questions in the VR/AR field, which he is definitely an expert of. Later, the topic moved to the strategies of my startup, it's so important to have a good thinking partner looking at the problem from outside!

Leyuan

Leyuan

5 out of 5 stars

Matt is an excellent mentor, he is very kind and answered all our questions very well. Highly recommended.

Sandeep

Sandeep

Lite Plan • 1 month

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